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In a high-stakes encounter that reshaped the Group 1 standings, South Africa delivered a masterclass in clinical T20 cricket to defeat India by 76 runs in the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup 2026. Held on Sunday (February 23), at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the 43rd match of the tournament saw the Proteas break India’s 12-match winning streak in emphatic fashion.
Despite a sensational opening spell by Jasprit Bumrah, who finished with 3 for 15 and became India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history, the Indian batting lineup faltered under pressure. Chasing a formidable target of 188, the Men in Blue were bundled out for a mere 111 in 18.5 overs, leaving their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread.
Suryakumar Yadav explains where the game slipped away from India
Following the crushing defeat, India captain Suryakumar Yadav was candid about the turning point of the match. While the bowlers initially had South Africa reeling at 20/3, the Indian chase suffered an identical, if not more damaging, collapse.
“Sometimes, you have to think you cannot win the game in the powerplay, but you can lose it. We lost too many wickets early on, and when you are chasing 185-plus, you need those small partnerships to keep the scoreboard ticking. We simply did not have the partnerships we needed today. We could have batted much better,” Suryakumar remarked during the post-match presentation.
India’s top order, featuring Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma, struggled against the pace and bounce of Marco Jansen, who dismantled the lineup with figures of 4 for 22. By the time the powerplay concluded, India was already staring at a steep climb, unable to recover from the early loss of rhythm.
South Africa deliver statement performance against India to secure a dominant victory
The narrative of the match was defined by how each team handled the middle overs. After the initial wobble, South Africa found heroes in David Miller (63 off 35) and the young Dewald Brevis (45 off 29), who stitched together a 97-run partnership. This recovery allowed Tristan Stubbs to provide a late flourish, propelling the Proteas to 187/7.
Suryakumar acknowledged that while India started well with the ball, the game slipped away between overs 7 and 15. He stated, “We were always in the game when we started. We bowled really well in the beginning, but from 7-15, they batted exceptionally well to take the game away. We did manage to come back toward the end, but the damage was done.”
He also heaped praise on the South African bowling duo of Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, noting their tactical discipline.
“Everyone knows their combination has been lethal. They bowl well in partnerships, picking up key wickets while keeping the run rate under control. Chasing on this surface required a more measured approach, and they didn’t give us any room to breathe,” Suryakumar concluded.
With this loss, India’s Net Run Rate has taken a massive hit, making their upcoming fixtures against Zimbabwe and West Indies must-win encounters.
